Improved blasting-cartridge



- powder little by little by means of a mallet `striking upon the driver, or by lneans oi' a lll'lMAN S. LUCAS, OF Clll IMPRovED BLAST 1STE lt, MASSACHUSETTS.

ING-CARTRIDGE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. V58,656, dated October 9, 1862i.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Bc it known that I, IIEMAN S. LUoAs, of Chester, in the county o1 llampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Cartridge for blasting purposes; and I do hereby declaro that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference heilig had to the letters and drawings forming a part of this specification.

The nature ot my invention consists in forming a cartridge for blasting purposes of a eylinder of solidly-eompressed gunpowder, or of any other explosive materials capable of bein g safely colnpressed into a suitable form, with suitable perforations or other appliances for igniting, and so protected and covered as to be impermeable to water.

To enable others skilled in the. arts to use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

To form the cartridge I take a holloweylinder, either of metal or of wood, preferring' metal, made slightly tapering, so as to facilitate the drawing ofthe cartridge when made. I tix in the center of this cylinder a slightly conical pin ot' metal, to form a central cavity in or perforation through the compressed powder. I have a rammel', made ot' hard wood or metal, preferring bronze, witha hole to lit upon the central pin and to exactly till the cylinder. t I till this hollow cylinder with meal or other form of gunpowder, using either nitrateof-potash or niti'ate-of-soda powder, (the latter beingprcferred on account of its cheapness and equal eiiicici'icy,) or any other kind of explosive material capable of being slightly compressed. Having tirst slightly dampened it, I compress this powder into a very solid or stone-like mass, either by driving down the screw or a hydraulic press, preferring the latter as most effective. When l have compressed my powder into a solid substance and form, as above described, I remove it from the cylinder. It is now a cylindrical or slightly conical mass of gunpowder with a central hole running through it from end to end.

I desire' to observe that I have described the mode of constructing the solid cartridge and the form which I have found most convenient. I do not limit myself, however, to

the inode above described ot fornel'ing the solid cylindrical cartridge, nor do I limit myself to the cylindrical form of the solid cartridge, as other modes of constructing' the solid cylindrical cartridges and other forms of solid cartridges may be found more convenient or useful. Neither do I limit myself to solid cartridges with perforations extending wholly through the center, as I sometimes use solid cart-ridges with pertbrations extending partly through the center,and the central perforation may be wholly dispensed with when other modes of igniting the solid cartridge at the center are used, as may be done by conducting an electrical current by means ot'a wire or otherwise.

When the cylinder of solid powder is formed as above described, and thoroughlydried, Itake the cylinder and wrap it carefully with tough, well-made, and varnished paper, impermeable to water, sealing up the cylinder of powder in it, covering that which is to be the lower end entirely, and leavin g proper projections beyond the end which is to be uppermost for attachment ofthe fuse when the charge is to be pnt into the blast-hole. (Cun-paper or gun-cloth cemented with collodion may be used as envelopes for the solid powder; butI do not cni ploy these materials on aceountottheir greater expense, preferring simple varnished paper or cloth.) A few g ains of granulated pow'der may be iirst put into the cavity, and then the fuse may be aiiixed by inserting it into the hole in the middle of the cartridge; or this powder may be omitted, it' desirable, as the fuse itself will iire the solid powder. rlhc paper in excess beyond the cartridge is drawn around the fuse and tied tightlyby means of twine. No cement is required unless the eart-ridge is to remain for a long time in a wet hole. In such a case a little wax or pitch may be put around the fuse when the paper is tied.

The cartridge is now ready to be put in the drilled hole in the rock, and may be tamped in the usual manner.

-I have described the mo`de of enveloping the solid cartridge which I prefer 011 account of its cheapness and simplicity. Other olivelopes or cases for the solid cartridge may bc used, such as casings of sheet metal, earthenware, or wood. Such easngs may be applied to the solid cartridge after it is formed, or the powder may be compressed solidly into such cases and sutl'ered to remain.

- The accompanying drawings exhibit the cylinder of compressed powder as above described, with the.perforationv andthe mode. of attaching` the paper covering and fuse.

Figure l is a section ol" the eylinderol' compressed powder. der of ,th-c cylinder is represented at letter A. The central perlbration is represented at letter B. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ot' the eyliuder of compressed powder, with the paper covering and t'use attached. The paper covering is represented at letters A A4 A, the projecting portions ol' paper as tied at B l, the twine tying the paper to the fuse at C, and the fuse at l).

.I will now proceed to present the advantages which thc solid compressed cartridge for blasting', as abovedescribed, possesses above all others now known to miners, and the manner in which it acts in blastinff.

First. It is safe from accidental tiring, either when out of the drll-holeor in it, no loose powder being exposed to firing from any cause, either in the box containing the cartridges, or in the drill-hole, or around it. I

Second, rlhe charge may be drilled out with perfect safety, since no powder is exposed to sparks from the drill in removing the tampiug.

Third. It muy be used in holes above as well as below, or at any angle where loose powder could not be used, and where the clumsy, tarred, or greased pouches or bags are now commonly employed, which bags are made with great inconvenience, and at. no small danger to the miner.

Fourth. This charge may be used in a wet hole without the'least difleulty.

Fifth. Nitrate-ofsoda powder (which is the. cheapest) can be used in this solidly-compressed state without danger of deliqueseeuce.

Sixth. rIhe solid powder being fired in its center, has innnense expansive force without that violent detonating initial action which is The solid compressed powso apt to blow out the tamping and only limited portions of rock around the hole. rlhe solid powder, acting with lcontinuous force, operates with more elliciency to overcome the elasticity of the rock than a sudden detonation.

I am aware that compressed gunpowdersometimes, -but incorrectly, called solid powder--has been used in tiring heavy ordnance; but such powder consists in l'aet ol' large grains, and is used lor a purpose direetly opposite to that i'or which my solid charge is used` viz., to prevent the bursting' et' the gun. I do not claim the use of powder for blasting,r in large and separate grains.

NVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters .latent, is

1. A cartridge for blasting made ot' solidlycompressed gunpowder, 'containing either uitrutc of potash or nitrate ol' soda, or granulated, or of any other suitable explosive matt rial capable ot' bein g safely compressed into a suitable form for blasting' purposes, and provided with any suitable deriee t'or igniting the same from the interior.

2. The combination oi'a eylind rical cartridge oi'solidly-eonipressed gunpowder, or other explosive materials iox"blasting.; with a central perforationextcmling partly or wholly through the same, constructed in the mannerand for the purpose above described.

3. The combination ot' a cartridge of solidlyeompressed gunpowder, or other explosive materials for blasting with a fuse, when said fuse is inserted into its interior in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a cartridge ot' solidlycompressed gunpowder for blasting; purposes with an envelope ot' paper or other textile material made impermeable to water, or with envelopes or easings et sheet metal, earthen-ware, or wood, the same being, attached to the fuse in the manne1 and forthe purpose set forth.

Il EMAN S. LUCA S.

Witnesses SAMI.. A. BAu'ruoLoMEW, ELIZABETH U. BAu'rHoLoMEW. 

